History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

349

West Side Chapel has a Sunday-school with an enrollment of one hundred, and the Memorial Chapel has a Sunday-school of one hundred and
fifty members. The entire property is in charge of the trustees of the
First Baptist church, with representatives from the workers of the two
chapels, who advise them in regard to the various phases of the work.
The superintendent of the Sunday-school of the First church is Judson Sibley; the superintendent of the West Side Chapel is C. S. Johnson,
while the superintendent of the Memorial Chapel school is John S. Bitzer. Flourishing women's societies are found in connection with various
organizations. The president of the Women's Missionary Society is
Mrs. E. L. Maguire; the president of the Wayside Gleaners is Mrs. James
Hutton; president of the King's Helpers of the West Side Chapel is Mrs.
C. S. Johnson; the president of the Truth Seekers of the Memorial
Chapel is Mrs. John Bitzer. The B. Y. P. U. has a membership of one
hundred and fifty, with A. Lincoln Moore as president.
The present pastor, Rev. R. M. Traver, began his pastorate here May
I, 1903.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
In a comprehensive article written for the Press Gazette in December, I9II, by Rev. Charles E. Blanchard, pastor of the First Presbyterian of Pontiac, a complete and accurate history of the church is given,
and so thoroughly covers the growth and experience of this flourishing
church that it is thought expedient to quote the article as written, or practically so: "The First Presbyterian church of Pontiac was organized by
Rev. E. W. Goodman, a missionary of the Presbyterian church, on February 26, I824, at the home of John Voorheis, in the town of Bloomfield,
and consisted of thirteen members. In 1833, nine years after its organization, it had a membership of one hundred and five persons. During
the early periods of its history, the country was very sparsely settled, and
the members were scattered through the various townships, living far distant from each other and from the place of worship in Pontiac. The
length and roughness of the roads rendered it difficult for them to attend church at the county seat, and, for their accommodation, meetings
were accustomed to be held in school houses and private residences in
the various parts of the country, and on such occasions the Lord's Supper was sometimes administered.
"On September 8, I828, the Presbytery of Detroit was organized and
the Pontiac church was one of three churches uniting to form the new
Presbytery. The other churches were those of Detroit and Farmington.
The Pontiac church was represented on that occasion by its pastor, Rev.
I. W. Ruggles, and Elder S. V. R. Trowbridge, the latter being elected
temporary clerk of the body. It is now the oldest church on the roll of
the Presbytery, with the exception of the First Church of Detroit.
"In 1831 several members of the Presbyterian church of Pontiac,
who preferred the Congregational form of government, received letters
of dismissal from the church for the purpose of enabling them to organize a Congregational church.
"In 1835 the church removed to Auburn, but returned in I841 to
Pontiac. At the time of the removal of the church to Pontiac, Presby